By Jordan Day
Cambridge News
May 27, 2010
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cambridge/Man-accuses-identical-brother-of-abuse.htm
A mormon missionary accused of sexually abusing the same boy as his twin brother insists the victim must have been confused by their identical looks.
John Patrick Conway, 50, claims either his brother Martyn Conway "tricked" the boy into thinking it was actually him for seven years or the victim genuinely could not distinguish the difference between them both.
Giving evidence at Cambridge Crown Court yesterday, the former postman told the jury he and his brother were conjoined at birth and were identical in every way.
Their sister was born with them and they have another brother.
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| Martyn, left, and John Conway |
He said: "Everything about us is identical and when we were younger even our family could not tell the difference.
"We used to play tricks on our teachers as we could get away with it.
"The boy has mistaken me for my brother – I haven't done these things to him."
Conway, who has lived in Cambridge all his life, added: "Whether my brother tricked the boy into thinking it was me for all those years I am not sure.
"But I am certain our identity has most definitely been mistaken."
Conway, who was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, is accused of six charges of indecent assault against the boy, who was under the age of 14, between April 1979 and May 1986. He denies the charges.
He does however admit one charge of indecent assault against the victim, in which he "accidentally" touched the boy's genitals after tickling him.
The jury has heard how the incident happened on a sofa at the Mormon Church in Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge – which all the allegations centre around.
The victim, who is now aged 37, also alleges indecent assaults in laybys in Lime Kiln Hill and Gog Magog Court in the city, as well as on a trip to the Pontin's holiday resort in Pakefield, Lowestoft.
Conway's brother, Martyn, has admitted six charges of sexual assault on the boy and is awaiting sentence.
Addressing Conway, Tim Brown, prosecuting, said: "You have admitted indecently assaulting the victim on one occasion and that it was an accident.
"So why didn't these other incidents happen?"
Conway replied: "They didn't happen.
"The boy didn't know the difference between us at that age and wouldn't have been able to tell whether it was me or Martyn."
Mr Brown added: "Were you aware of Martyn ever playing an identity trick on the boy?"
Conway replied: "No I wasn't but even if he did, he would never have told me.
"I am not saying the boy is lying – my brother has admitted it was him.
"I was and never have been interested in young boys."
The case continues.
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